China farmers steal oil in plastic bags

Farmers in impoverished central China, tempted by soaring global crude prices, are stealing oil from state pipelines in plastic bags, the official China Daily newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Villagers in dusty Shaanxi province are siphoning off enough crude every day to fill up to five bags each, which weigh around 50 kg (110 lb) when full. They sell them on to small private refineries earning and make about $1,000 (543 pounds) a month, the paper said.